This crown is one that I would rather not have

I gained a new title after a visit to the dentist Monday morning: Your Majesty. It's only fair, I reason, that someone with a crown is addressed in a royal manner.

Chad Killebrew

I gained a new title after a visit to the dentist Monday morning: Your Majesty. It's only fair, I reason, that someone with a crown is addressed in a royal manner.Sadly, this crown doesn't sit atop my head but rather in my mouth. It becomes yet another first in a sad litany of woes with my teeth: first cavity, first root canal, first extraction and now first crown. Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair for someone who has always brushed vigorously twice a day and went years without a cavity.My first encounter with a major dental procedure occurred the summer after my sophomore year in college. I had my wisdom teeth removed. But I was put under anesthesia, so the procedure itself was a breeze. I do remember the first couple of days of recuperating weren't real pleasant due to the bleeding, though.The latest dental dilemma started when I noticed some sharp pain when chewing food. It didn't happen every time I ate, and it often only occurred one time during a meal. But the fact it sometimes happened when I was eating relatively soft food gave me concern.The pain came from a molar on the bottom left side of my mouth. For most people, it would be the next to back molar, but for me it was the back molar, as its companion cracked and had to be extracted a couple of years ago. My sons still laugh that the song that happened to play on my iPod as the dentist prepared to remove the tooth was "Wide Open Spaces" by The Dixie Chicks.That's one reason I decided to visit the dentist when this latest pain started. I worry that my teeth may continue to pose problems, and I would prefer not to lose any others. Sure enough, the dentist detected a small crack in the molar, so he suggested a crown would be the best way to address the problem.The procedure itself didn't cause much pain. The worst part is hearing the drill and smelling the aroma of burning tooth. The dental assistant warned me about biting my tongue, since it was numb along with the side of my mouth. As feeling returned about lunchtime, I realized I had indeed bitten my tongue, and it continued to bother me for a few days after the procedure.A temporary crown now occupies the top part of the molar until I return in a couple of weeks for the permanent version. I became a bit concerned when the dental assistant provided some instructions on what to do should the temporary crown come off, since the office will be closed for vacation the next two weeks. Apparently one can buy dental cement at the drugstore.Perhaps that do-it-yourself approach shouldn't surprise me. A coworker's son recently suffered a nasty gash on his chin when he fell while on a camping trip. Since no medical facility was close by, an off-duty paramedic suggested the use of Super Glue. Sure enough, that did the trick, and the pediatrician confirmed its use on a follow-up visit once they returned home.I shared with my dad about my tooth problem, and he mentioned something that didn't bode well for the future. "I have a mouth full of crowns and bridges," he said, and then talked about how much money he'd spent on dental work in the past few years. So if genetics play a role in the health of our teeth, I may be in trouble.A friend who recently underwent a medical procedure commented about some of the physical downsides of growing older. All of us begin to experience more aches and pains as we age, and some more serious medical issues crop up as well.Routine check-ups and self-diagnosis can prevent some problems from developing. So I continue to brush regularly, and I started flossing nightly last year as well. I will do my best to give the rest of my teeth a fighting chance to remain whole.I hope my only dental visits for several years after I receive my permanent crown will be for twice yearly cleanings. Those come without any bad sounds and smells, too — and I usually receive a free toothbrush as well.Chad Killebrew is executive editor of The Dispatch. He can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 215, or at chad.killebrew@the-dispatch.com.